Marsh, Spencer Race on Day Four at Olympic Trials

June 29, 2016

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Graduates Andrew Marsh and Max Spencer represented the West Virginia University swimming team on the fourth day of the 2016 U.S. Swimming Olympic Team Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, on Wednesday. Marsh competed in the 100-meter freestyle while Spencer raced in the 200 breaststroke.

In his second event of the week, Marsh tied for 46th place overall and finished second in his heat with a time of 50.46 in the 100 freestyle. Making his lone Trials appearance, Spencer raced in the 200 breaststroke, finishing 60th with a time of 2:19.11.

“Andrew and Max both had very solid swims this morning,” said WVU coach Vic Riggs. “Andrew’s 100 freestyle was his best prelim time (50.46), and he was second in his heat. Max followed up in the 200 breaststroke, going under 2:20 for the second time in his career, which was also his best prelim time (2:19.11) and a great way for him to finish his swimming career.”

Marsh and Spencer are two of four Mountaineers competing at the eight-day trials at Omaha’s CenturyLink Center. They are joined by fellow WVU graduate Bryce Bohman and rising senior Nate Carr. Bohman, Carr, Marsh and Spencer will compete in a total of nine events for spots on the U.S. Olympic Team.

Monday’s competition was highlighted by Bohman and Marsh’s top-30 finishes in the 100-meter backstroke. In a field of 183 swimmers, Marsh placed 20th overall with a personal-best time of 55.63, while Bohman touched the wall in 30th with a 55.91. Marsh improved on his career-best time by 0.32 seconds, and he was just 0.23 seconds shy of a top-16 finish and a spot in the evening’s semifinals. The meet opened on Sunday, when Carr placed 78th in the 400 individual medley with a time of 4:32.62.

Competition continues for WVU on Thursday, when Carr races in the 200 individual medley. On Friday, the prelims conclude for WVU with Bohman in the 100 butterfly and Marsh racing in two events, the 100 butterfly and 50 freestyle.

Heats will begin at 11 a.m. ET each day, while the finals will start at 7:45 p.m. ET.

Complete schedule, meet information and TV schedule can be found at USASwimming.org/trials. Live results are available at USASwimming.org. NBC Sports will broadcast each day of the U.S. Olympic Trials. There will also be a live stream of the event online at NBCSports.com/Live.

Swimmers with the top 16 times in the morning heats will advance to the semifinals. The top eight times in the semifinals will move on to the finals with the first- and second-place finishers in the finals qualifying for the 2016 Olympics.